Coin changer



5. MAY

COIN CHANGER Oct 4, 1949.;

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed-March 3, 1947 SAM MAY INVENIOR'.

ATTORNEY ct. 4, 1949. 5, MAY 2,483,708

, com CHANGER --Filed March 3, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CHANGER Sam May, Dallas, Tex. V Application March 3, 1947, Serial No. 732,076

Claims. (01. 194-80) This invention relates to a new and improved mechanical coin changer.

A further object of'the invention is to provide a machine whereby a selected number of coins may be delivered by depositing a coin in a selected slot and operating a lever common to all coins of a predetermined denomination, whereby merchandise and change may be delivered for the'deposit of a coin of a greater denomination than that required for the merchandise.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of a simple design which will operate entirely mechanically with a minimum number of moving parts and yet be positive in its action.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: a v V Figure 1 is a plan view of themachine used to illustrate its operation. by coins of different denomination. v

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of'the complete unit with the outer shell or box broken away to show the general construction of the machine and the dispension of'coins of difierent denominations in relation to the machine.

Figure 6 is an isometric view of two coin ejectors to illustrate that the uppermost plate may be operated singularly when a coin of the proper denomination has been deposited in the machine.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view taken on line 'l'l of Figure 1, illustrating a ratchet to compel completion of a stroke of the lever so that only one operation of the machine is possible on each coin deposited.

In the drawings the numeral l0 designates a coin changing machine consisting of r a box shaped housing ll entirely enclosing the machine except for slot [2 to match slot l3 in the face of the vending machine and slot [4 for the ejection of coins to coin shute l5. Partitions IS, H, 18 and I9 are fastened by welding or other suitable means to the sides and bottom of box H to form grooves for the lugs 20, 2|, 22 and rack 23 of operating plate 24 to operate in. Partitions l6, l1, l8 and [9 are provided with slots 26a which are'r'natched to serve as guides for actuating lugs 26 and 21. Coin ejector plates 28 and 29 are enclosed in cover plate 30 with sufficient clearance to allow ejector plates 28 and 29 to operate freely and provided with clearance slots 3| for the operation of pins 32 and 33. A magazine 34 is mounted-on cover plate 30 directly over a hole 35 in cover plate 38, so that coins will normally rest on the top of ejector plate 28. I

For the purpose of description this machine will ,be described as taking coins of denominations of 5, 10 and 25 for the purchase of merchandise having a value of 5.

In the drawings, the coin magazine 34 is circular in construction to receive coins deposited in slot 35a for the purchase of merchandise without the service of the machine to deliver change. The magazine may also be periodically loaded by the service man to insure a sufficient supply of coins to make change. Slot 35 is for deposit of a 10 piece requiring change of one 5 piece. Slot 31 is for deposit of a 25 piece requiring change or four; 5 pieces.

In all cases the coin is received first through coin control unit 38-of standard well known construction, commonly known as coin ejector which operates the vending machine by making the necessary electrical or other contacts within the coin control unit 38 or rejects a spurious coin prior to operation.

As is best shown in Figure l, the machine has two slots 39 and 48 respectively, which will receive coin A or B as received from chutes 4| and 42. as shown in Figure 5. The chute 43 is for the deposit of a coin of the correct denomination in the magazine 34. The coin vending machine is so constructed that a 25 piece deposited in slot 31 makes the necessary contacts (not shown) in the ,coin control unit 38 to dispense the merchandise and drops through chute 4| to groove 39. An operating plate 24 carrying the operating arm 44 is provided with lugs 28, 2|, 22 and 23 and they act as guides to keep the movement of the plate in alignment horizontally and which also operates the machine through the medium of a coin A-or B. V

The top plate 24 and lug 20 are so spaced from ejector operating arm that movement of operating lever 44 contacts a coin of 25 denomination deposited in groove 59 at lug 20, the opposite side of the coin contacts the ejector operating lug 26 fastened to ejector plate 29 stationarily by means of thepin 32. Pin 32 in turn slides ejector plate 28 by means of lug 45 formed by notching plate 28 to form a recess lfi. Plate 28 is of a thickness slightly less than that of a 5 piece.

3 Plate 29 is of a thickness slightly less than a stack of three 5 pieces.

Ejector operator arm 26 and 21 are constructed with upward projected lugs 41 and 48, preferably beveled as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Catch 49- is a T-shaped member slightly elevated at one end at as shown in Figure 4 and pivoted about a pin 5|, hinged to stop 52. Tension spring 53 is suitably attached to the catch and the projection plate cover 30 holds the catch down so that when operating plate 25 passes over elevation 50, the fingers 54 of catch 49 drop down below the level of the upward projected lugs 41 and 48.

When operating plate 24 is moved to its ,ex-

treme forward position, fingers 54 snap over lugs A? and 48, thereby holding ejector operating arms 26 and 2! so that when plate 24 starts itsreturn to a starting position, the tension is released on coin A and it is allowed to drop through-opening to a suitable container (not shown). When operating plate 24 is returned to its normal position by tension spring 550, suitably fastened to end plate 58 of box H, the operating plate 24 "rides the elevated-portion fll of the catch t9 downwardly, thereby pivoting-catchAll-upwardly about pivotpin 5 I and releases-ejectionplates 28 and 29 to the tension of springs 56 and '5'! to propel change into coin chute l5.

When a-d'imeisdepos'ited in 'slot 3-8, it makes the necessary contacts in coin control unit 38 'to'operate a vending machine-whereuponthecoin passes through chute 42 into slot 40. Operating plate 25 is then moved forwardly by lever '44, -lug 2i pushing the dime -B against ejector lug 21 fastened solidly to-ejector' plate -28 bymeans of upright pin 33. Further-movement of the-operating plate 2 4 slides the ejector lug 2-1 and ejector plate 28 until the catch 54' snaps over the lug A8 thus holding ejector lug -H and ejector plate 28 until the operating plate 2-4 is returned-to starting position and "the coin is dropped through slot 59 into a coin box ('notshown) and catch l-S =is tripped by plate-24 passing 'over elevation 59 thereon, as previously describedr'in operating the machine with a 25 piece.

For making change for a dime; only the upper ejectorplate'is used toe'ject'onecoin. Movement of ejector lug '21 and'ejector plate 28 independently of ejector plate 29 is accomplished through the provision of the recess -4 6 in plate 28' which is of such length as to-"allow plate 28 to move to catch "54 without contacting pin 32. Thus when in this-position, the change coin stack in magazine es drops to the top of the-ejector meta-2s which'hasrernained in its normal'position. 'When :catch ,54 is. tripped, the ejector plate 28, slightly less in thickness than -a-5 piece, ejects one coi-n :from the bottom of the stack to chute I5. To keep :the machine from being operated repeatedly with the samercoin, the .platel l is provided with a ratchet assemhlyas bestshown -.in Figure? outer lug 23 of plate 24 has a series :of small notches 59a .thereinl'and oversize notches 50. -A dog 6-1. :pivoted on pin :62 is :attached to plates L63 and 16 by means of a tensionzspring 154: and will catch in notches 5 at :an angle if (an attempt is made to reverse the direction of the :movement of operating arm 44 :before the stroke .is completed, thus stopping ,plate 24.

Upon completion of a stroke, the-dog-fallszinto one of the end notches 60, permitting the-reversal of the dog and consequent release-of thelrack 2-3 for return to its original position.

Manifestly, the construction shown and des ib i c p l -9 s m m fmcii n u 4 modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A change maker comprising parallel coin receiving grooves, a change magazine, slidable coin ejector plates below said magazine whose relative thicknesses predetermine the number of coins adischarged thereby "from said magazine, a spring tensioned operating plate slidable in said grooves having lugs depending into the latter, means for directing coins of predetermined value into respective coin grooves, in advance of said lugs, means having independent operative connection with said ejector plates against which tare-moved- .ain said grooves for retracting both of said ejector plates by one coin and a single plate by a coin of lower value, said plates, upon their return under spring tension, being 'e'iiective to discharge coins from saidmagazine in value corresponding to that of the operative coin in one of said grooves.

2. A change maker-comprising -a pair of coin grooves means for directing coins for exchange into said grooves in accordance with their ,denomination, each-of said igrooves having a coin release slot in one end, a change containing magazine, coin e-j'ectors one above the "other and in slidable relationship below said magazine whose relative thickness determines the number of coins displaceable thereby from said .magazine, an operating lever having lugs depending therefrom into said grooves, means having operativ connection independently with said ejectors, engageable and operated'by coins in said grooves under pressure of'said lugs to retract both ejectors uponthe insertion of one coin andla single ejector upon the insertion of a coin of lower value, spring means for returningsaid ejector to eject coins of equal value from said magazine and means for delaying the return action of said ejector.

3. A change maker comprising grooves. into which coins are deposited according .to their denomination a change magazine from, which coins in value corresponding to that of acoin in one of said grooves are discharged, a coin ejector for each of said grooves, an operating .plate, lugs carried by said plate andengage'able with a coin in one or the other of saidgrooves, means having operative connection withsaidlplates independen'tly and against which coins are moved by said lugs to retractbothoisaid coin ejectors-uponinsertion of one .coin. and .a .single ejector upon the insertion of a .coin of lower value, spring for returning said retracted ejector etc-discharge coins from saidmagazine in value corresponding to that of said deposited coin and means for delaying the return action of the retracted ejector to release the operative coin from itslgroove.

4. In a change making machine, .a ;pair of horizontalcoin receiving grooves inspaced apart parallelism, each having :a coin release slot ,in one end thereof, a change containing magazine intermediatesaid grooves at one-end of said machine, change ejector plates disposed one upon the other in relative sliding relationship below said magazine, the upper :plate having a slot thereimthezthickness of eac-hof saidplates determining the number of :coins to be ejected from said magazine, a spring tensioned operating plate, lugs on said operating plate extending .into said coin grooves, means tor directing coins of difiereni; denomination into respective coinrgroovses in advance of said lugs, means for actuating said operating plate to move coins in said groove to a point of discharge through the release slots therein, a pin rising from each of said ejector plates, the pin of the lowest of said plates extending through the slot of the overlying plate for independent movement of said latter plate, a lug on each of said pins efiective upon movement of said coins to retract both plates by one coin and a single plate by a coin of lower value and spring means for returning the retracted plate to propel change from said magazine of predetermined value.

5. A change making machine including parallel coin grooves, a change containing magazine, relatively slidable coin ejector plates disposed one above the other below said magazine the upper of which is slotted, a pin mounted on and perpendicular to each of said plates, one of said pins extending through the slot of the upper of said plates, a spring loaded operating plate having lugs depending into said coin grooves, means for directing coins of difierent denominations into 6 respective coin grooves in advance of said lugs, means attached to each of said pins against which coins are urged by said lugs to retract both coin ejector plates by one coin and a single ejector plate by a coin of lower value, means to delay return action of said retracted ejector plate and spring means efiective upon spring return of said operating plate to propel said retracted ejector plate forwardly to discharge coins of predetermined value from said magazine.

SAM MAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,084,076 Egan et a1 Jan. 13, 1914 1,101,206 Mathews et a1 June 23, 1914 2,185,148 Evans et al Dec. 26, 1939 2,250,051 Patzer July 22, 1941 2,322,234 Hagstrom June 22, 1943 

